US pharma industry for keeping India in patent violator list

The pharmaceutical sector in America has asked US Trade Representative (USTR) to continue keeping India on its priority watch list (PWL). This includes countries that are alleged violators of US patent laws.

The key concerns of the US pharma industry is that there is an unpredictable environment in India with regard to IP, high tariffs and taxes on medicines, regulatory data protection failure, discriminatory and non-transparent market access policies and unpredictable environment for clinical research.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in a submission requested US Trade Representative (USTR) to continue to keep India on the Priority Watch List in the 2017 Special 301 Report.

“Further, we urge USTR to provide an opportunity for a meaningful assessment of India’s IP regime through an Out-of-Cycle Review, so that the US government can evaluate progress on these important issues and dedicate the required bilateral attention necessary to translate India’s commitments into substantive and real policy change that addresses the IP and market access barriers confronted by US businesses in India,” PhRMA said in the Indian section of its submission, as quoted by PTI.

The association said it supports the Indian government’s efforts to create a stronger business, innovation and healthcare environment through the “Make in India” initiative, the new National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy and the forthcoming National Health Policy.